Haris Rauf suspended for two games after Asia Cup fiasco
Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been handed a two-match suspension after accumulating four demerit points within a 24-month period, following multiple breaches of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct during the Asia Cup 2025. India captain Suryakumar Yadav was fined 30 percent of his match fee and received two demerit points for a code of conduct breach in the same tournament.
Rauf courted controversy during the competition with his gestures repeatedly involving in matches involving India. The ICC confirmed that Rauf was found guilty of "conduct that brings the game into disrepute" - Article 2.21 - in two separate incidents during India-Pakistan clashes on September 14 and September 28. With four demerit points in total, Rauf has now incurred two suspension points and will miss Pakistan's ODIs against South Africa on November 4 and 6, 2025.
The ICC also announced sanctions for other players following hearings conducted by members of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. On September 14, Suryakumar was fined 30% of his match fee and received two demerit points for breaching Article 2.21, while Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan was issued an official warning and one demerit point.
Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh was cleared of an alleged breach of Article 2.6, which pertains to the use of obscene or offensive gestures, after being found not guilty by Match Referee Andy Pycroft.
In the final on September 28, India's Jasprit Bumrah accepted a charge under Article 2.21 and received an official warning along with one demerit point, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.
Under ICC regulations, Level 1 breaches carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a fine of up to 50% of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points. Four or more demerit points within a 24-month window convert into suspension points, leading to a ban from one Test or two limited-overs matches. Demerit points remain on a player's record for two years before being expunged.
